Russia Accused of Spreading Disinformation at U.N. Security Council

Days after Russia took the helm of the U.N. Safety Council’s rotating presidency, a coalition of greater than 50 international locations on Wednesday known as Moscow’s first occasion a brazen disinformation showcase and an abuse of its function on the world physique.

Russia hosted an off-the-cuff Council assembly on the destiny of 1000’s of Ukrainian youngsters forcefully deported to Russia and positioned with Russian households for adoption — a transfer that the Worldwide Legal Courtroom of Justice labeled a battle crime. The court docket additionally issued arrest warrants final month for President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and the top of that nation’s youngsters safety company, Maria Lvova-Belova.

However not solely did Moscow host and livestream an occasion on Wednesday in regards to the very situation that drew world condemnation, Ms. Lvova-Belova additionally appeared through video earlier than the Council to disclaim the fees and defend Russia’s actions.

When she spoke, representatives of a number of Western international locations, together with Britain, Malta and the US, walked out of the chamber, returning solely to ship speeches condemning Russia.

“No quantity of disinformation unfold by the Russian Federation can deny the reality of the matter nor defend people from accountability for these crimes,” a joint assertion by the US, Ukraine and European Union member states mentioned.

Ms. Lvova-Belova mentioned she was happy to have the chance to “dispel the fakes and present the alternative facet,” and that Russia was able to cooperate with the reunification of the Ukrainian youngsters with their households. “Now we have little doubt that this can be a marketing campaign to discredit our nation and makes an attempt to hide their irresponsible actions about youngsters,” Ms. Lvova-Belova advised the Council.

She famous that Russia didn’t acknowledge the jurisdiction of the worldwide court docket.

Britain’s mission to the United Nations had mentioned that it will block the U.N. webcast of Russia’s session due to Ms. Lvova-Belova’s look. “If she needs to present an account of her actions, she will be able to achieve this in The Hague,” it mentioned in an announcement.

However on Wednesday, Russia discovered a manner, offering a livestream of the occasion, with simultaneous translation, on YouTube.

“It’s outrageous, outrageous that Russia’s occasion as we speak included Maria Lvova-Belova,” mentioned Ngoyi Ngoyi, a consultant of the U.S. mission to the United Nations. He mentioned Russia’s actions demonstrated its contempt for the United Nations and worldwide legislation, and known as its makes an attempt to justify its actions “appalling.”

Russia took over the rotating presidency of the Safety Council greater than 12 months after its navy stormed throughout the borders of neighboring Ukraine. The session on Wednesday flew within the face of American and European diplomats’ hope. They mentioned they anticipated Russia to conduct its work professionally however would name out Moscow if it used the platform to unfold propaganda and disinformation to justify its actions in Ukraine.

Britain’s overseas secretary, James Cleverly, mentioned on Twitter that his nation would “by no means enable Russia’s lies to go unchallenged.”

Russia’s strikes additionally known as into query an announcement made on Monday by its ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, who mentioned, “We don’t abuse the prerogatives of the presidency,” including that “we cherish” the function of the Council presidency.

The session on Wednesday included a stream of video appearances and pictures apparently meant to make the case that Russia’s actions in Ukraine have been justified and that the youngsters have been in good fingers.

There have been upbeat testimonials from officers from areas in Ukraine illegally annexed by Russia and never acknowledged by the United Nations; video messages from girls claiming to be Ukrainian moms who mentioned that they have been more than happy to have their youngsters whisked away to Russia; and three promotional-style movies displaying Ms. Lvova-Belova visiting Ukrainian youngsters in hospitals and houses — and hugging and kissing them and handing them toys.

Mr. Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador, additionally used the discussion board to spin extremely questionable narratives. He mentioned, with out offering any proof, that Ukrainian youngsters have been being forcibly separated from their households and brought to European international locations like Germany, Spain and Portugal for placement in shelters and with native households. Mr. Nebenzia mentioned a Russian lawyer was concerned in “extracting Ukrainian youngsters from European slavery.”

He additionally accused the US of forcibly transferring Vietnamese youngsters to American shores after the Vietnam Conflict and inserting them with American households for adoption and refusing to return them to their households.

Not all Council members condemned Russia on Wednesday.

China, one other everlasting member of the Council and an ally of Russia’s, mentioned it had taken be aware of Russia’s willingness to unify youngsters with households and spoke usually of the necessity to shield youngsters in armed conflicts.

Japan, one of many international locations that signed the joint assertion condemning Russia, mentioned Moscow wanted to evacuate its forces from Ukraine as an alternative of evacuating youngsters.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, sat out the session on Wednesday however mentioned she had met together with her Russian counterpart, Mr. Nebenzia, on Tuesday to demand the discharge of The Wall Road Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia on espionage fees.

It was the primary time that American and Russian ambassadors to the United Nations had a one- on-one assembly for the reason that Russian invasion.